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Barn find Facel Vega discovered on Minnesota farm sells for $209,509

March 18, 2014

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Facel Vegas aren't often seen on our roads (or in our barns) so you can imagine what finding a Facel Vega in a Minnesota barn must have been like. Actually, we're pretty sure that only the people who actually did find a 1962 Facel II in a Minnesota barn know what that feels like. The next closest thing to that experience could perhaps be finding a Chrysler race car in a barn in the south of France, which actually did happen not too long ago.

Forges et Ateliers de Construction d'Eure et de Loire S.A. may have built just 2,900 cars, but the company's legacy greatly exceeds its lifespan and its overall production figures. Due to their exclusive nature (and high price) quite a few have survived into the present day, and having been owned by celebrities and royalty of the has certainly helped their numbers.

This Facel II was sold new by Hoffman Motor Company in new York City in 1962 to its first owner, whose name is unfortunately unknown at this time. But the Peacock Blue example passed into the care of its second owner nine years later, perhaps moving from the New York City area to Minnesota at that point in time. What we do know is that the car was last registered in 1973, and that it has sat inside a barn for the last 40 years. The odometer shows just 31,152 miles, believed to be genuine.

A Chrysler V8 is under the hood. Photo by Bonhams

Facel Vegas were some of the most exclusive cars of their day even though their remaining numbers are not great, and they happen to be a group of cars that were sometimes known as hybrids. That's what coachbuilt European cars, mostly coupes, with handbuilt bodies and American power underhood were called.

The Facel II sported a 6.3-liter Chrysler V8 making 355-hp, which was mated to a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, which is how this particular car is optioned. Even though the Facel II was also offered with a four-speed manual transmission, this class of car was more about luxury touring than sporting aspirations. This example was also equipped with Dunlop disc brakes, power steering, a limited slip differential, and an HMV radio.

These were actually rather advanced machines back in the day, and offered four-wheel disc brakes standard, which was not surprising, given the car's performance numbers: 8.3 seconds to 60 mph, and a top speed of 150 mph. Just 182 Facel IIs are believed to have been made between 1961 and 1964, when the company went bankrupt.

The leather from the front seats won't be salvaged. Photo by Bonhams

This example was very much in barn find condition when it was offered for sale at Bonhams' Paris sale last month, with the gray leather interior appearing largely intact though clearly unsalvageable. Nothing major appeared to be missing from the interior, and the overall impression it gave, even in the photos, was that it was in good cosmetic condition when it was parked. The auction description did not note that anything was absent in terms of mechanicals, and the brightwork and details appeared to all be there. The worst of the car appeared to be rust along the door sills and fenders.

Of course, what we don't know is why it was abandoned in a barn. Were the owners unable to find service for it in Minnesota? And why was it taken out of the barn just in recent months? These questions remain unanswered.

This Facel II was estimated to bring between 80,000 and 120,000 Euros, which translates to approximately $111,000 and $194,000, but this example surprised everyone by bringing 155,250 Euros or approximately $209,509.

This should be a pretty straightforward restoration--no rare pieces of trim have to be sourced or fabricated. Its storage conditions were not ideal, but Minnesota's dry-ish climate appears to have spared this car from a worse fate. We hope it gets the restoration it deserves.